Since ancient times, there have been quite a number of infatuated women. But someone like Dongfang Yinuo, Zhao Shuning had never seen before.
In Zhao Shuning's perception, even if one loves someone so much that they are willing to sacrifice their life for that person, they should never abandon their self - esteem and humble themselves to the dust.
A woman who does not love herself, how can others love her? How can that person like someone who has humbled themselves to the dust?
However, although Zhao Shuning understood this, Dongfang Yinuo did not.
Since childhood, whenever Dongfang Yinuo wanted something, her father, uncle, and mother would always try their best to obtain it for her. In this world, there was nothing that Dongfang Yinuo wanted but couldn't get.
But Xia Jingning was not an object. He was a living person with his own thoughts and nature. He didn't like her from the very first meeting.
Xia Jingning's eyes were always on Dongfang Yuchen. Dongfang Yinuo was not unaware of this. She had noticed it.
But what could she do? Her mother had never taught her how to deal with such a situation. So, like before, she began to use her uncle's power and the power of Dongzhou to put pressure on the Duke's Mansion.
The result, however, was not what she had expected. She thought Xia Jingning would regret, cry bitterly, kneel in front of her, admit his mistakes, and beg for her forgiveness. If that were the case, she would definitely give him another chance.
Because Xia Jingning was the first person Dongfang Yinuo had ever loved so deeply. But he didn't. No matter how tense the war between Dongzhou and Hailing Country was, he never compromised.
He didn't compromise, but Dongfang Yinuo gave in. Sometimes, she even thought she was so despicable. Clearly, Xia Jingning's heart and eyes were not on her, yet she still kept standing in front of him, hoping he would notice her. In the end, she only humiliated herself.
Dongfang Yinuo had returned to Dongzhou for a few years. She tried to indulge in debauchery, tried to ignore worldly affairs, and tried to do all kinds of unrestrained things.
But even when she was dead drunk, even when she was exhausted, even when she was extremely indulgent during the day, at night, that figure would always appear in her mind. She was on the verge of a breakdown.
During this period, she had wanted to end her life more than once. She even found herself disgusting in this decadent state.
At that time, her uncle came. He brought a black - clothed person with him. The black - clothed person said that she knew what Dongfang Yinuo wanted and could help her.
To this day, Dongfang Yinuo still didn't know the real appearance of that person. Every time they met, the person had a different face.
The black - clothed person said that he could help her get Xia Jingning as long as she followed his method. Somehow, Dongfang Yinuo nodded.
She returned to Hailing Country and met a gentle and beautiful woman. She used her power to spy on the woman's every move and secretly learned her eating habits.
The black - clothed person told her that one day, she would replace that woman and move into the Marquis's Mansion. Dongfang Yinuo had no expectations for this world anymore. Now that she had found a glimmer of hope, she naturally wouldn't give it up easily.
The black - clothed person was very powerful. Later, when she met him again, he gave her a new face, a face she was very familiar with, the face of Qi Yurou.
Dongfang Yinuo's spiritual power was a bit stronger than Qi Yurou's. Over the years, she had also tried her best to imitate Qi Yurou's daily routine.
Finally, that day came. She was successfully sent into the Duke's Mansion. When she saw Xia Jingning, the person she had been longing for day and night, Dongfang Yinuo found that although she hated Xia Jingning, when she saw him again, her love for him was even stronger.
The black - clothed person was right. Xia Jingning's attitude towards Qi Yurou was much better than his attitude towards her before. And Dongfang Yinuo enjoyed this kind of life more and more.
Even though she knew that this kind of tenderness was "stolen" and wouldn't last long. But even if she knew, Dongfang Yinuo didn't want to give it up.
The black - clothed person told her that as long as she cooperated well with Xia Jingning, found enough spiritual roots, and gathered enough spiritual power, after the Soul - Transferring Formation, Xia Jingning would completely belong to her.
"So, you believed him?" After listening for a long time, Zhao Shuning couldn't help but ask at this point.
"Of course I believed him. That black - clothed person helped me a lot. If it weren't for him, Xia Jingning wouldn't be so gentle to me now. I never got a bit of such tenderness from him before."
"But do you know that his tenderness towards you is not because he likes you, but because of guilt. His tenderness is for Dongfang Yuchen."
"So what? What can I do? Even if I know this is a dream, it's too late for me to escape. I'd rather be immersed in it forever."
Before Zhao Shuning could speak, Dongfang Yinuo added, "And you, why did you show up at this time? It was your appearance that made Xia Jingning abandon his original plan."
Zhao Shuning shook her head. This Dongfang Yinuo was really too stupid. Didn't she realize that from the very beginning, she had just been cultivated as a tool, a shell?
"Do you know what the Soul - Transferring Formation is? It's to completely extract your original soul and then inject a brand - new spiritual power into your body. From then on, your consciousness will no longer exist."
Dongfang Yinuo stared at her with red and swollen eyes, seemingly in disbelief.
"Xia Jingning is so nice to you not because he likes you, but because of guilt. Do you understand?"
The truth was so bloody. The wound on Dongfang Yinuo that was almost healed was violently torn open again and then exposed to the scorching sun. This kind of pain made her almost out of breath.
Zhao Shuning didn't want to be so harsh to a beauty. But Dongfang Yinuo's feelings for Xia Jingning were too deep. If she didn't give her a strong dose of medicine, when she knew the truth in the future, she would become even more crazy.
"You—"
"You're lying to me—"
"Right?"
Zhao Shuning squatted down, looked at Dongfang Yinuo on the ground, and sighed, "You already have the answer in your heart, don't you?"
Dongfang Yinuo's eyes became dull. She laughed with tears in her eyes. So, after all her efforts, she had just been a substitute for someone else.
Then, what was she striving for? For him, she had changed completely. She hadn't even taken care of Dongzhou, which she cared about. In the end, her feelings were still sentenced to death.
"What can I do?" Her mother, uncle, and the upcoming family struggles. She had only cared about her personal feelings and hadn't paid any attention to those things.
"What you should do is be yourself." Zhao Shuning stood up. Under the moonlight, one figure stood against the wind, while the other figure slumped on the ground in a mess.
"Perhaps, I can help you." Zhao Shuning slowly reached out her hand to Dongfang Yinuo on the ground.